Boston Licensing Officials Suspend Use of Large, Portable "Beer Towers" - Allston Brighton - Your Town - Boston.Com

Boston licensing officials suspend use of large, portable "beer towers" - Allston Brighton - Your Town - Boston.com

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Posted by Your Town March 29, 2011 08:43 AM E-mail | Print | Comments (54)

By Matt Rocheleau, Town Correspondent

Boston licensing officials have suspended the use of increasingly-popular large, portable beer taps and are requiring that businesses already licensed to serve alcohol request permission to use the beverage dispensers.

The move comes after at least two city bars, RELATED SITES one in Allston and another in Brighton, were cited on St. Patrick’s Day by Boston Police for Drink Boston Go To It serving “beer towers” without prior city Ladies United for the approval and for serving to patrons in ratios ALLSTON-BRIGHTON REAL Preservation of Endangered that exceeded the statewide two-drinks per ESTATE Cocktails person at a time limit. 86 160 6 0 Beer towers, also known as “[portable] beer taps,” come in an array of sizes Homes Rentals Open houses New listings often around double to triple the size of standard pitchers that typically hold for sale available this week this week between 48 ounces and 60 ounces. They commonly feature a spout allowing guests to pour individual cups or glasses. SPECIAL ADVERTISING DIRECTORY The city has sent out notices to all Boston businesses licensed to serve alcohol informing that each must stop using beer towers immediately and request a CAMP GUIDE » hearing before the licensing board where allowed use will be determined “on a A camp for every kid! case-by-case basis.” Adventure, sports, theater, music, arts or technology—find the perfect camp for your child at boston.com/campguide. http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/allston_brighton/2011/03/boston_licensing_officials_ban.html[4/9/2011 8:33:37 PM] Boston licensing officials suspend use of large, portable "beer towers" - Allston Brighton - Your Town - Boston.com Any business granted permission to serve beer towers will not be required to pay fees for receiving that consent, Licensing Board Chair Nicole Murati Ferrer said Monday.

“Please be advised the [licensing] board is taking this stance based on its ADVERTISEMENT concerns with serving the public need and at the same time protecting the common good and safety of all,” reads the letter that the licensing chair said began being sent out Friday and continued Monday.

Meanwhile, the letter reminds business owners that "prior to the installment of any permanent self-service beer tap system, you must obtain approval from this board to amend the liquor license."

State officials were not aware of the existence of beer towers until they learned of the recent citations in Boston, said Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission spokesman Al Gordon.

“We have not seen an increase in the size of beer containers throughout the Commonwealth,” he added. “Clearly bars need to adhere to the state Allston Brighton regulations designed to prevent the dangerous consequences of alcohol that Headlines can include drink driving and personal injury,” Shulamit Peck, Within a half-hour span on March 17, Roggie's Brew and Grille in Brighton psychologist, Zionist, lifetime learner; at 92 (1 and Tavern in the Square in Allston were cited by city police, according to day ago)

police accounts first reported on by the Allston/Brighton TAB. Wild turkeys patrol city sidewalks (4 days ago) “These beer towers are becoming more popular in the Boston area and there St. Elizabeth\'s Medical are questions as to whether or not they are in violation,” of state laws, the Center getting new police reports said. president (4 days ago) Owner of snake that got Police said area businesses, including both cited on St. Patrick’s Day, were loose refuses T cleanup told by officers about one week before “that they should contact the Boston bill (4 days ago) Licensing Board to request a hearing relative to these beer towers and due to the uncertainty about them, cease the sale of them until a hearing is held to Also From Allston- determine if they fall within the law,” according to the reports. Brighton

The two establishments have licensing hearings scheduled for April 12, city NIGHTLIFE officials said. The alcohol commission spokesman said violation of state alcohol regulations results in local licensing board hearings that, at the board’s discretion, may result in a business’ liquor license being modified, suspended or revoked.

Both businesses declined to comment. City police did not immediately A turbulent year for Allston respond to a request for comment. businesses

TRENDS http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/allston_brighton/2011/03/boston_licensing_officials_ban.html[4/9/2011 8:33:37 PM] Boston licensing officials suspend use of large, portable "beer towers" - Allston Brighton - Your Town - Boston.com Licensing officials were not aware of any citations issued beside those against the two bars. The board’s chair said those two businesses were “cited not for use, but for misuse,” of beer towers because they served in quantities exceeding state regulations.

At Roggie’s, police found one 148-ounce “beer tower” had been served to two guests and a pair of the 148-ounce portable beer dispensers had been served They kick it in Allston like to a seven-person group. no place else

PHOTOS “Based on the amount of beer served to the table, even using a standard of 16 ounces, this would be a violation,” of the Massachusetts law that limits drink service to two per person at a time, police said.

Officials say 128-ounce “beer towers” were being served at Tavern in the Square that same afternoon. The restaurant’s management told officers “that Tailgating at the Harvard- there needed to be two to three persons in the party to order a beer tower,” Yale game police said. COMMUNITY Police said that ratio of beer-to-people would also exceed state limits for drink service.

State regulations designate that: “No licensee or employee or agent of a licensee shall … deliver more than two drinks to one person at one time,” or

“sell, offer to sell or deliver malt beverages or mixed drinks by the pitcher Community center begins except to two or more persons at any one time.” to take shape

E-mail Matt Rocheleau at [email protected].

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